The Jack Warner story: Made in Trinidad and Tobago

Chuck Blazer, former CONCACAF general secretary and chief financial officer, in Jack Warner’s authorised biography “From Zero To Hero”, which was written by Trinidad Guardian sport editor Valentino Singh.

“Jack (Warner) is a measure of reality for those who like bullshit.”

Photo: Ex-TTFA general secretary and CONCACAF president Jack Warner (centre) chats with then FIFA president Joao Havelange (left) and former Germany World Cup coach and captain Franz Beckenbauer.(Copyright AFP 2014)

National Security Minister Jack Warner’ initially offered a trademark response to the latest and most deafening furore to engulf him in relation to his lack of restraint around other people’s money.

“I tell you on Friday when I reply to (Opposition Leader Keith) Rowley make sure you have a front row seat,” Warner told CNC3, “because I’ve been quiet on Rowley for far too long and the time has come now for me to go after Mr Rowley frontally.”

Exactly what did PNM leader Keith Rowley have to do with Warner’s 21-year stint as CONCACAF president and the Confederation’s subsequent investigation headed by former Barbados chief justice and attorney general Sir David Simmons?

Trinidad and Tobago is believed to have a short attention span. Next Friday will be exactly seven days after the damning CONCACAF report.

Warner deduced that, if he could ride the outrage out for that long, he might survive. He could not.

This evening, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced Warner’s resignation but gave every indication that he was pushed. And the politician whose personal email address reads “dsurvivor2011” was finished as a cabinet member.

It was in 2011 that Warner beat a hasty exit from FIFA in the wake of bribery allegations. He thought he could use his government post to survive but it proved to be the start of the end for the former history teacher.

Three years ago, then Integrity Commission chairman Eric St Cyr recommended that Warner choose between his government portfolio and his FIFA position. Had he left football then, the Chaguanas West MP might have avoided the fall-out with Blazer and FIFA president Sepp Blatter and lasted the term as a cabinet member.

Photo: Ex-FIFA VP Jack Warner (left) and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

If Warner gave up his government post, he might have continued to benefit from the lax scrutiny afforded to most sporting administrators.

But, like Icarus, Warner was intoxicated with his own success and it was a matter of time before he flew too close to the sun.

It is ironic that after years of using his FIFA credentials to buy and bully Trinidad and Tobago citizens and, quite possibly, commit crimes within this country’s boundaries, it is the football body that sent him to his political grave.

Two years after his promised tsunami barely produced a ripple, Blatter had the last word and his new CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb pulled off a remarkably clean hit.

The FBI, in all likelihood, will be next in line for its pound of flesh.

But what does it say for Trinidad and Tobago that its Government, watchdog bodies and many of its citizens were so willing to bend over at even the promise of a sniff of Warner’s ill-gained wealth?

What country is so morally bankrupt as to allow itself to be lectured to on matters of corruption by FIFA?

Warner was no aberration. He was a product of Trinidad and Tobago society; a larger-than-life amalgamation of all our worst qualities.

First Citizens Bank, with present Finance Minister Larry Howai as CEO, approved suspicious mortgages on his behalf. The Trinidad and Tobago Customs allowed ex-FIFA vice president Mohamed Bin Hammam to enter local soil with over a million US dollars cash and then looked the other way when close to two dozen Caribbean officials departed with US$40,000 each in envelopes.

Former President Maxwell Richards, Persad-Bissessar and almost everyone else stayed silent as 23 Chaconia medal recipients and World Cup 2006 players were cheated out of bonus payments promised to them.

Police and Fire officials did nothing as fans cheered on the “Strike Squad” in a shamelessly, over packed death trap on 19 November 1989.

According to Warner, these are all FIFA crimes that should be of no interest to the Prime Minister. And all aided and abetted by supposedly distinguished countrymen whom Warner understood better than they knew themselves.

Photo: The “Soca Warriors” received national Chaconia silver medals for qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

Warner never tried to convince anyone of his innocence. He does not have a record for facing his questioners be they FIFA, CONCACAF or other investigators, Andrew Jennings, James Corbett or Wired868 editor Lasana Liburd.

Stripped down to its bare nucleus, Warner’s argument has repeatedly been the same: Does this really affect you? Would it not be easier to look the other way?

For decades, the answer was “yes.”

Persad-Bissessar and then United National Congress Deputy Chairman Fuad Khan refused to probe Warner when Haiti accused him of stealing US$690,000 in aid money after its tragic 12 January 2010 earthquake that caused over 300,000 deaths.

Former Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs and Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Ramesh Deosaran tried to abort police probes into the Minister’s role in the Bin Hammam bribery affair while present acting CoP Stephen Williams has displayed no stomach for this investigation.

Integrity Commission chairman Ken Gordon looks set to leave office with several files on Warner still in the to-do box.

Ex-FIFA VP and MP Jack Warner (centre) is flanked by former England football captain David Beckham (left) and ex-FA chairman Lord David Triesman.

Congress of the People (COP) founder Winston Dookeran, Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) leader David Abdullah, National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) Chief Servant Makandaal Daaga, former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, ex-prime minister Basdeo Panday, Sport Minister Anil Roberts, Downtown Owners Merchants Association (DOMA) head Gregory Aboud and other prominent businessmen and, of course, the constituents of Chaguanas West all played dumb when it suited them.

From Daaga to Roberts to Persad-Bissessar, Warner spotted a trait that runs deep in Trinidad and Tobago. It can be summarised in two words: “Me first.”

Trinidad and Tobago, despite over 50 years as an independent nation, still appears too politically immature as a people to see the link between corruption and hardship; we seem unable to grasp that millions pocketed and wasted by politicians and their cohorts might have a direct relation to ill-equipped hospitals, unsafe roads, the loss of our gas subsidy, inadequate basic services like water and, of course, the enduring crime scourge.

Warner knew a population inclined more to self-preservation than communal love would turn a blind eye to its neighbour’s suffering once someone felt there was a dollar in it for him. And he preyed on Trinidad and Tobago’s selfish streak for decades.

Photo: Ex-FIFA vice-president Jack Warner delivers bottled water to Haiti.FIFA and the Haitian football president accused him of failing to pass on the money, though.

As Blazer sagely noted, Warner exposed Trinidad and Tobago’s safeguards for its sportsmen, supporters and taxpayers as bullshit.

He cheated footballers, bullied fans, manipulated auditors and ignored lawmen and the courts. Everyone was at the mercy of his greed.

Be good, sang American rapper Lil Wayne, or be good at it. Warner was very good at it.

“Together we aspire, together we are achieve” became “when it suits me I will conspire, when it suits me I will deceive” as Trinidad and Tobago hurtled down the international transparency index.

There will be a feeling of relief that Warner has finally left Cabinet. But he does not fall alone. He has never operated in a vacuum.

Warner is a product of Trinidad and Tobago. His departure is not the end of our society’s longstanding romance with corruption. But, if the two-island republic looks inward, perhaps his fall from grace might be the start of something more dignified for us all.

About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the CEO and Editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.

Ppl it started on the Campaign to November 19 with the Strike Squad,,,,Ppl didn’t want to believe it was a Sale out,,,,,from that game the rise of Jack,,,now you see the end result,,,,you can’t defend something once it Wrong,, and it is Wrong,,,do a check,,,you will see the rise of a lot of Players after Nov 19,,,the Saga continues.

Which community ? Jack single handedly by his greed for power and money he has my Trinidad and Tobago on the International stage for all the wrong reasons Jack make his bed ,let him sleep in it Jack himself says he is sleeping well when night come The man has no remorse

Nice article. I share your viewpoint. In response to questions on Mr. Warner’s funding of our 2006 WC campaign. Correct me if I’m wrong. Back in 2000 following our Gold Cup campaign in the same year in which we lost in the semis to Canada, didn’t Warner as Special Advisor to the TTFF, fire Bertille St. Clair and a number of players on the squad, claiming that HE had hired Bertille to win the Gold Cup (& not to qualify for the 2k2 World Cup as Warner had previously stated), & had paid players to do the same among other things? Brent Rahim, as a US college student was on that squad & Warner’s “payment claims” caused the NCAA to look into Brent’s affairs as he was on scholarship. David Nakhid was also on that team & was vocal in his criticism of things were handled following that GC campaign. If my memory serves me correctly, he was one of the key players cut from that squad. I asked myself questions then as to how Jack Warner could do all that and make such claims….what was his job spec really as a Special Advisor? Why did Oliver Camps and the board of the TTFF allow all that to happen? If my memory is correct with what I jus said, then one can surmise as to the extent of Jack Warner’s involvement in T&T football from a financial standpoint, even with our 2k6 World Cup campaign.

It’s sad that one man rise to fame and fall to alleged corruption, seems to over shadow all the good that Jack did for his people and others. I am certain by now he realize how many friends he truly have, but most important if there’s any friends, they’re not to the forefront with him, because they too don’t want negative spotlight. I don’t believe I ever benefitted from anything Jack did in Trinidad or abroad and I am not a fan of his, but I have friends and others who respects him for his Service to their Community etc.While it’s unfortunate and I can only imagine the turmoil, pain, agony and shame to his family, friends and colleagues based on the allegations. Those without sin, cast the first stone. It’s amazing how people rush to Judgement so quickly. It’s truly sad.

When a negro climb’s up to the top we help prop him not help pull him back down otherwise black man will always b at the bottom while other do worst an u will support dem cause they Ar not black .think

I have an important question and hopefully either Lasana or someone else with that knowledge or information can enlighten me- I’m sure I’m not the only one lacking the intimate details of which I speak of.

There is this on going court case involving the Soca Warriors and Warner, TTFF et al…Regarding the money or monies involved in the 2006 participation in World Cup Germany.

The info. that I’m aware of thus far, and I’m up for correction is I’m wrong- is-

The Soca Warriors are claiming that they are deprived of money or income from the 2006 participation of the 2006 W.C. As far as I know, it’s 50% of all sponsorship, advertising and Games played.

My question is-

Why is the Soca Warriors entitled exclusively to those monies?

Is that standard practice for the team representing a country to be owed a prcentage of the total income from all sources?

Did the Players of the Team Soca Warriors invest their own money to represent the Country?

Did the government of TnT provide money to the Soca Warriors Team to get to the world cup?

What return on the investment the TAX Payers made for the Soca Warriors to get to Germany?

Is jack Warner entitled to any money whatsoever, aside his remuneration for being “special adviser”?

I find it suspicious that the Soca Warriors who played in the 2006 W.C representative of the country would claim that amount of money, when it was the TAX Payers that forked out the Local amount minus what FIFA and CONCACAF doled out to assist the Soca Warriors…

I’m just confused as to why it is The Soca Warriors believe they are entitled to that vast amount of money, when they did not contribute any of their “personal” finances toward Germany 2006.

Hello Felipe. The Sport Dispute Resolution Panel in London and the Trinidad and Tobago High Court both ruled that the 2006 World Cup players had a valid bonus agreement with the TTFF that the football body did not satisfy.
Yes, it is standard practice that football teams (club and national) have financial bonus agreements for the players even though they do not financially invest in the team. It is like the end-of-year bonus you might receive at your own job or that many people get anyway.
The size of the Trinidad and Tobago football team’s bonus package was offered by Jack Warner. The players never asked for any particular sum and they still don’t know what they are owed. But they feel that they just be paid what they were offered and a London-based arbitration body (selected by the TTFF), the High Court and the Court of Appeal all agreed.

Gentlemen please don’t forget that ;
1 – Trinidad and Tobago had uniform contracts with Finta, Athletico, Umbro, L- Sporto and Adidas in about a six year space and the players did not receive their share to carry those company’s brand

2. It was Jack Warner who boldly told the then PM in 2006 put your money where your mouth is and pay the players the bonuses promised by gov’t for the pride they gave us, the investment they attracted and the opportunity for Boogsie, Machel and all our cultural and business ambassadors to place Trinidad and Tobago on European show during that world cup…Gov’t paid the week the players returned…I would say tax payers got their return when we qualified. I’ll never forget hearing the national anthem played on that stage W/Cup and being at Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School which does not stop for weekend or public holidays and being given two hours off to watch the game and everyone stopping and standing at attention while we sang the anthem out loud…magic…ROI for tax payers

3. Finally it was Jack Warner who went to players’ dressing rooms etc and promised the players after their hard fought draw with Sweden (I believe) to pay these performance bonuses and more if they qualified for the next round and he admitted that in his legal and public submission claiming after the fact it was said in a moment of euphoria and could not be realistically held as a promise.

None as far as I know…It seems for instance that he would select hire and pay a coach and bind the TTFF to a contractual arrangement based on what he claimed to have paid out of pocket. It also seems evident that he developed company’s that catered for all TTFF/CFU/CONCACAF needs – Travel Agencies, Security, Car Rentals, Rental Apartment, Catering etc and committed the TTFF to contractual arrangements with them.
Who knows he may have pulled a few strings to secure practice games, assistance to fund travel etc from other FA’s…He has generally made the claim that he ‘took the smallest country ever to a W/Cup’…God alone knows if we really want to know what that really means…
The team earned FIFA sums for qualification, Corporate sponsorship from State and other enterprises and the Gov’t of Trinidad and Tobago funded the rest…I can tell you that it seems he benefited a whole lot. Don’t forget he was accused of asking the Scottish FA to pay to his personal account the fee for a pre w/cup practice game and we have seen what the CONCACAF reports, the International Court of Sports Arbitration, and local Courts say he has benefited from the funds transferred to the TT W/Cup LOC which he led.

Since morning after I read your post, I’ve been doing some research – but before I go there, let me just say, I would like the police to investigate and the DPP to file Criminal charges on him…

That said, I found out this morning that any citizen can file a criminal complaint against Jack…for example, you or I can go to the police, take the facts from the concacaf report and the records that Camani Marajh found and Press charges against him…..He stole Tax Payers money and that is a crime.

On a different note- I am so sickened by what Jack Warner has done, especially the theft he committed against Haiti- His actions has injured the Image and reputation of our country, our nation and every single Trinibagonian alive; and dead! When People speak of that theft they won’t way “Jack Warner” alone- it will be “Trinidadian born Jack Warner”- painting each of us with that broad brush of theft and corruption.

My friend, those of us, born in the 60’s, have a duty to protect, provide and pave the way for our young people- If we allow the likes of Jack Warner and this Government to continue on the path they are going, our country will have nothing left in 10 years.

These gremlins we have for a government and call themselves leaders are a greedy bunch of neanderthals and have no idea how to run a country – just great skills on the ills of such.

We need to get our young people out in droves and help them demand what is theirs otherwise, there will no future for them after this bunch of Old foggies are done with us.

We have begun to carve a way out, but we need all involved….please go to:

Felipe, the 2006 World Cup bonus case deals with revenue from corporate and State-owned bodies. Whatever money Jack Warner might have claimed to spend has nothing to do this whatsoever. And, as evidenced from a Freedom Of Information request, the income revealed thus far from those bodies is a minimum of $180 million.

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